US Air Force sends message to Iran as 52 stealth fighter jets worth $4.2 billion take part in huge ‘combat power’ drills

THE US Air Force sent a chilling message to Iran with a huge display of jet fighter force as President Trump deployed B-52s with their sights set on Tehran.

Fifty-two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets – worth $4.2 billion – took to the runway as Utah’s Hill Air Force Base hosted a Combat Power Exercise.

Fifty-two F-35A Lightning II stealth jets were used in the drill conducted by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings

Technically the display had been planned for months, but in light of last week's assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani it took on a new significance — Technically the display had been planned for months, but in light of last week’s assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani it took on a new significance

Donald Trump’s military is not leaving Iraq

The aircraft were used in the drill conducted by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings.

An elephant walk – a term for the taxiing of military aircraft before takeoff – was organized as part of the exercise.

Technically the display had been planned for months, but in light of last week’s assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani it took on a new significance.

The 388th Fighter Wing said on Facebook: “The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As – testing readiness in the areas of personnel accountability, aircraft generation, ground operations, flight operations, and combat capability against air and ground targets.”

“A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Hill’s fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability.”

The 419th Fighter Wings tweeted ‘We’re ready to fly, fight, and win,’

They added the exercise ‘pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen’s ability to deploy the F-35As en masse’.

'The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As,' according to the 388th Fighter Wing — ‘The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As,’ according to the 388th Fighter Wing

The 388th Fighter Wing revealed the aircraft have achieved 'full warfighting capability' — The 388th Fighter Wing revealed the aircraft have achieved ‘full warfighting capability’

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single engine stealth fighter that is "virtually undetectable to enemy radar" — The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single engine stealth fighter that is “virtually undetectable to enemy radar”

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a 'combat power exercise' — A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a ‘combat power exercise’

An elephant walk - a term for the taxiing of military aircraft before takeoff - was organized as part of the exercise — An elephant walk – a term for the taxiing of military aircraft before takeoff – was organized as part of the exercise

The 419th Fighter Wings tweeted 'We're ready to fly, fight, and win' — The 419th Fighter Wings tweeted ‘We’re ready to fly, fight, and win’

They added the exercise 'pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen's ability to deploy the F-35As en masse'. — They added the exercise ‘pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen’s ability to deploy the F-35As en masse’.

Fifty-two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets - worth $4.2 billion - took to the runway as Utah's Hill Air Force Base hosted a Combat Power Exercise — Fifty-two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets – worth $4.2 billion – took to the runway as Utah’s Hill Air Force Base hosted a Combat Power Exercise

KILLER IN THE MIDST – F-35 FACT FILE

– Costs between $89 million and £115 million each

– Top speed of 1,200 mph

– First supersonic stealth fighter jet in history

– Almost invisible to radar

– Carries air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and six 910lb bombs

– Capable of both vertial and conventional take-offs

As tensions grow with Iran, the Pentagon sent six B-52 strategic bombers to Diego Garcia, a British-controlled island in the Indian Ocean, CNN reported Monday.

The military base will have the B-52s available for operations against Iran if needed.

According to the US Air Force, a B52 can drop bombs on anything in an 8,800 mile radius (4,480 miles if it is to return to base) of its airbase but can be refueled mid-air, meaning that it can keep going for as long as its 5-strong staff can.

The B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.

According to CNN, the bombers were deployed to the island because it can’t be reached by Iranian missiles.

STAMPEDE DEATHS

This morning a stampede at the funeral procession of Iran general Qasem Soleimani killed in a US air strike has killed 40 mourners, according to reports.

Qasem Soleimani – who was blown to bits by an American drone as he arrived in Baghdad last Friday – was due to be buried today, but this has now been postponed.

The funeral has drawn huge crowds with thousands of mourners packing into the streets.

But the crowds have now sparked a deadly crush with dozens of people dead his home town of Kerman, according to local media.

Some 40 people have so far been killed and another 213 injured in the horror crush, Iran state TV reports.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept over the general’s casket during his prayers as mourners were seen waving flags and action against the US for the assassination on Friday.

President Trump ordered the airstrike after claiming Soleimani he was responsible for killing Americans in Iraq and he was plotting further attacks.

The Trump administration was criticized for the move by Democrats, which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said was necessary, claiming Soleimani was plotting imminent attacks on Americans.

In response to the Iraqi parliament’s vote to expel U.S. troops, Trump threatened to demand billions of dollars in compensation from Iraq for military investments made there throughout the years.

WATCH: 52 F-35s launched in rapid succession from @HAFB today! @388fw& @419fw conducted a combat power exercise part of normal, scheduled training operations and not a response to any current events.
The fighter wings are home to 78 aircraft.
Via @Fox13 pic.twitter.com/fHFlGTyp05
— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐞 (@brian_schnee) January 6, 2020

The F-35 Lightning II boasts 'unprecedented' technology and can reach speeds of 1,200mph — The F-35 Lightning II boasts ‘unprecedented’ technology and can reach speeds of 1,200mph

A B-52 Stratofortress and it's weaponry — A B-52 Stratofortress and it’s weaponry

A B-52 Stratofortress carries a payload of 31.5 tons

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a combat power exercise, after he formed up in an "elephant walk" exercise at Hill Air Force Base — A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a combat power exercise, after he formed up in an “elephant walk” exercise at Hill Air Force Base

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber (R top), two US F-35A (middle) and two US F-35B (bottom) stealth jets flying over South Korea with South Korea's two F-16 (L) and two F-15K (C top) fighter jets — US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber (R top), two US F-35A (middle) and two US F-35B (bottom) stealth jets flying over South Korea with South Korea’s two F-16 (L) and two F-15K (C top) fighter jets

Ground crew work on a Lockheed Martin F-35A at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford, Britain July 8, 2016

The Pentagon has ordered six B52 bombers be deployed to the region within striking distance of Tehran (file image)

Iranians gather round a vehicle carrying the casket of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Qom

Soleimani was killed by a US airstrike last week

Mourners touch the casket of Soleimani during his funeral on Monday in Qom

Soleimani, 62, was killed by a US airstrike after two missiles were fired from a MQ9 Reaper drone struck the general after he disembarked from an aircraft at Baghdad airport.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US troops from the Middle Eastern nation.

But a “poorly worded” draft memo sent out on Monday, announcing a the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, sparked confusion.

A letter addressed to Abdul Amir, deputy commander of Iraq Joint Operations Command, said that America will be “repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks” as requested.

Defense chiefs quickly came out saying that US troops were not leaving the country, and that the letter was a draft and was not meant to be published.

When asked by reporters, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Pentagon said: “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.

“I don’t know what that letter is. We’re trying to find out where that’s coming from, what that is.

“But there’s been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period.”

General Mark A. Milley told reporters after looking at the letter: “It was a mistake.

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“Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That’s not what’s happening,”

He clarified it was a draft and had not been signed.

The drama comes as tensions grow between the U.S. and both Iraq and Iran because of the targeted death of Gen. Qasem Soleimani

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley both clarified that US troops are not withdrawing from Iraq

The U.S. military said Monday it will not be removing troops from Iraq

Republicans slam Nancy Pelosi for trying to limit action taken by Donald Trump on Iran with House vote.